In April 2017 we had a fortnight holiday in Sri Lanka. Our time soaking up the sun was also interspersed with our  four long day trips out to see and learn about some of the country. Below are the experiences and wonderful sights we enjoyed on these trips.

Firstly lets look at where we stayed - Our hotel, at Ahungalla on the South West coast, was a very nice all inclusive package, and was located on the the beach, where from the pool you could look down to the local hawkers trying to sell you their wares from the beach. 

Kandy daytrip

So off we go, with an early start and as we left our resort we climbed through lush green landscapes towards Kandy in the Central Highlands. Along the way, we stopped at the Kandyan herbal and spice grove. Lots of plants to create all the local recipes and remedies. Back and shoulder massages were on offer and Kath took the opportunity!

We then made our way to a tea factory. We had a tour of the factory and learnt how the tea was treated and then had a cup of local Ceylon tea, in Giragama. The sight of undulating hills covered in row after row of tea plants is one of images of Sri Lanka you see….

Following our tea tour we went to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens near to Kandy, and enjoyed this large area and the Orchid houses. Also lots on monkeys and fruit bats about.

After lunch, we went on a city tour of Kandy. Kandy is the  last capital of a pre-colonial Sri Lanka. It is the home to the magnificent Temple of the Tooth Relic which we visited and had a good look around. We also saw a city of tree-lined streets crammed with hawkers, tuktuks and colourful vintage buses. 

Colombo city tour

We had our own mini bus trip to the capital city of Colombo. Colombo is a large city, full of people and so noisy. 

We went into the  Pettah district, which is absolutely buzzing and famed for its bazaar and Dutch colonial era monuments, the Fort area, where elegant buildings go back to the days of British rule. And then there’s the sea front and beach known as Galle Face. 

We saw much of the culture including the Independence Memorial Hall and the Buddhist Gangaramaya Temple. 

Our driver had a fun day as he was stopped 4 times and had a number of tickets. He was not a bad driver; it just was not his day!!

Madu River boat ride and Galle city tour

Another earlier start and off we go by minibus firstly to a Turtle rescue centre and then to a garden full of organic herbs and spices and the guides offered facial massages….. 

It was then onto Balapitiya, where we went for a boat ride on the Madu River. This was fascinating, loads of wild life and plants which we had not experienced before

Then we headed for Galle which is an old walled city with a maze of alleys lined with Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial architecture, loads of people and all sorts of little shops... 

On the way back we called in at the moonstone mine, saw how the stones were mined, from a large hole in the ground and the set up was very primitive and certainly would not meet UK H& S standards. We then went into the sheds when they cut, polished and finished the stone. On the way out we purchased a ring with the local stone for Kath.

Back in time for dinner and a beautiful sunset.

Yala National Park safari

Yala National Park has the world’s largest concentration of leopards, along with more than 300 elephants and 42 other species of mammals and countless different birds. We had a fabulous day with our jeep safari in the Park, and saw Sri Lanka’s ‘big four’ – leopards, elephants, sloth bears (but no picture!) and buffalo and loads more. 

Along with seeing all the fantastic animals we went to the area that commemorates the tsunami, 26th December 2004. There is a graphic memorial that shows the height the waves reached, in this area.

At the recommendation of our driver we stayed on longer at the park, so we could see more, and it was well worth it and still got back for our evening meal. (Just! We had about 5 minutes to beat the 10 pm shut down!) It’s the first time I had been rallying in a mini bus!